Campaign Director

Environmental Justice Foundation Limited; Brussel Hoofdstad; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Cycle to Work

Remote working up to 2 days a week

Job summary

Environmental Justice Foundation is seeking a Campaign Director to lead a flagship EU campaign. The role requires deep institutional knowledge, strategic influence, and outstanding communication skills to operate at high levels of European policymaking.

You will co-develop advocacy plans targeting the European Commission, Parliament, Council, and national governments, ensuring timely influence and measurable outcomes. The position is hybrid with international collaboration.

Qualifications

• Senior level experience with European institutions and networks.
• Proven track record in designing and delivering campaigns with measurable outcomes.
• Ability to engage senior policymakers and diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead a flagship EU campaign strategy to defend and secure strong, science-based and fair ocean policies during the current European policy cycle.
• Co-develop and co-execute high-impact advocacy plans targeting the European Commission, European Parliament, Council of the EU, and Member State governments, ensuring timely influence at key political moments.
• Establish and maintain close relationships with NGOs, fishers’ organisations, academics, legal experts and other allies to maximise influence and alignment.
• Coordinate the delivery of work across team members across the coalition to deliver the campaign.
• Build and maintain senior-level political relationships with policymakers, advisers, diplomats, regulators and other decision-makers to advance campaign objectives.
• Lead debate framing and messaging that position healthy seas, biodiversity restoration and thriving coastal communities as mutually reinforcing priorities.
• Represent the campaign externally in high-level meetings, conferences, roundtables, media opportunities and stakeholder forums with authority.
• Identify political opportunities and risks, providing strategic intelligence and recommendations to adapt campaign tactics in a fast-moving policy environment.
• Secure measurable policy outcomes, tracking progress against campaign goals and working with the collaboration to adjust strategies to maximise impact.
• Ensure strong delivery, accountability and value for money.
• Contribute to donor engagement, including helping shape proposals, reporting on impact and supporting opportunities.

Skills

Senior political expertise

Campaign leadership

Policy advocacy

Stakeholder engagement

Fluent English

Additional EU language (French/German/

Job description

Contract: Three years. Hybrid working arrangements are in place

Salary range: Dependent upon experience and location

About the Environmental Justice Foundation

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) exists to protect the natural world and uphold our fundamental human right to a secure environment. We work at the frontlines of environmental injustice, alongside communities most affected by climate breakdown, biodiversity loss, and exploitation - transforming evidence into action, and injustice into lasting change.

EJF is a global non-profit driven by a powerful belief: that environmental protection and human rights are inseparable. Through courageous field investigations, rigorous research, and strategic international advocacy, we expose environmental crime, challenge impunity, and catalyse systemic reform. Our work delivers real-world impact, shaping policy, strengthening governance, protecting vital ecosystems, and defending those who risk their lives to safeguard them.

Our campaigns span four deeply interconnected areas: oceans, climate, forests and wetlands, and the training, protection, and empowerment of environmental defenders and journalists. From illegal fishing and forced labour to deforestation, land grabs, and climate displacement, we confront some of the most complex and urgent crises of our time - always with a focus on accountability, equity, and durable solutions.

EJF is an international organisation with a diverse team working across four continents, united by a shared ambition: to protect people by protecting the planet. We are bold, evidence-led, and impact-driven. We speak truth to power - and we build pathways to a fairer, more resilient future. Join Us.

About the role

Over the next three years, Europe will make critical decisions that will shape the future of its seas and the global ocean for decades. During this decisive policy cycle, multiple foundational frameworks will be introduced, some might be reviewed. This is occurring amid rising political pressure for deregulation: weakening EU environmental protections would not only harm marine ecosystems and fish populations, but it would also threaten coastal livelihoods and undermine the EU’s credibility as a global standard-setter in ocean governance. This situation highlights the urgent need to reframe the public debate and policies around sustainability and low-impact fishers to achieve economic resilience, climate stability, and social equity, which are foundational to a sustainable future for Europe and beyond.

EJF is working with close partners to lead a campaign to both defend and secure a robust, fit-for-purpose EU regulatory regime that protects marine ecosystems and restores biodiversity while finally ensuring a more equitable and sustainable fishing sector and putting an end to the marginalisation of small-scale fishers. Our vision is of thriving seas and thriving coastal communities going hand in hand, where a healthy ocean is the bedrock of sustainable livelihoods, jobs, and long-term economic prosperity. It is this inseparable link that will drive our engagement.

The Campaign Director will lead the implementation of this flagship campaign, combining deep institutional knowledge, strategic influence, and outstanding communication skills with the credibility and networks necessary to operate at the highest levels of European policymaking.

Key responsibilities

The Campaign Director will:

• Lead a flagship EU campaign strategy to defend and secure strong, science-based and fair ocean policies during the current European policy cycle.
• Co-develop and co-execute high-impact advocacy plans targeting the European Commission, European Parliament, Council of the EU, and Member State governments, ensuring timely influence at key political moments.
• Establish and maintain close relationships and constructive collaborations with NGOs, fishers’ organisations, academics, legal experts and other allies to maximise influence and alignment.
• Coordinate the delivery of work across team members across the coalition to deliver the campaign.
• Build and maintain senior-level political relationships with policymakers, advisers, diplomats, regulators and other decision-makers to advance campaign objectives.
• Lead debate framing and messaging that position healthy seas, biodiversity restoration and thriving coastal communities as mutually reinforcing priorities.
• Represent, as needed and appropriate, the campaign externally in high-level meetings, conferences, roundtables, media opportunities and stakeholder forums with authority and credibility.
• Identify political opportunities and risks, providing strategic intelligence and recommendations to adapt campaign tactics in a fast-moving policy environment.
• Secure measurable policy outcomes, tracking progress against campaign goals and working with the collaboration to adjust strategies to maximise impact.
• Ensure strong delivery, accountability and value for money.
• Contribute to donor engagement, including helping shape proposals, reporting on impact and supporting opportunities.

Person specification

You will have sharp political insight and strategic vision, be results-driven, demonstrate strong initiative, have credibility in senior policy environments, and be able to represent the campaign with authority and professionalism. You will have:

• Senior political expertise and access: A highly experienced professional with a deep understanding of the European institutions and established networks across officials and influential political groups.
• Proven campaign leadership:Demonstrable track record of designing and delivering successful, high-impact advocacy or political campaigns with measurable outcomes.
• Collaborative and diplomatic approach:Able to work constructively with diverse stakeholders, build coalitions, and inspire external partners and allies to support shared objectives. This should include the ability to work across governments, NGOs and industry.
• Outstanding communicator: A persuasive and authoritative communicator capable of engaging senior policymakers, partners, and public audiences. Must be fluent in English.
• Fluent in at least one additional EU language, with French, German, or Spanish strongly preferred.
• Annual leave increases with length of service.
• Up to two days of remote working per week. The other three days will be based in EJF’s offices in Brussels, London or Berlin.
• A “Cycle to Work” scheme.
• A highly motivated and open-minded team of committed colleagues, and the opportunity to develop and deliver persuasive proposals contributing to EJF’s campaign and organisational objectives.
• Excellent opportunities for professional growth and personal development.

Interview processes and the number of rounds for different roles will vary, but are likely to include three stages: a short screening call, a panel interview with a task relevant to the role, and a final interview.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Candidates must have the legal right to work in Belgium, the United Kingdom or Germany.

EJF is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity within the workplace.